Reviews (5)

Underrated Gem
This is a fabulous, light comedy with a great all-star cast. This is something that deserved to be re-done on DVD. The plot concerns three women who live in Oregon. Jane Curtain is the wife of a wealthy architect. She comes home one day to fine he's run off with another woman, the bank accounts are cleaned out, and he's nowhere to be found. Bills are coming due. Jessica Lange is the wife of a wealthy veternarian played by Richard Benjamin. Her antique store is never profitable and now he has to sue her to please the IRS. She doesn't want to lose the store. Jill St. James is a divorcee with two kids and a deadbeat ex-husband. Her father then moves in with her when her mother takes up with another woman. She's pregnant with her boyfriend and they want to marry, but he has a no-future job, unless he can get the money to buy his boss' hardware store.

All three are friends and all three have something in common: they need money, and they need it now. After some failed schemes to get some, they decide to pull a heist at the local mall.

This is hysterical and tremendously funny. It's nothing deep or life changing, just a lot of intense, non-serious humor, great characters and great situations. Sure, there are some holes and a few scenes don't quite work, but this is something that ought to be in your permanent collection if you like comedies. It's a little dated, but has not lost any of its humor over the years. It's similar to "9 to 5" but I think funnier.

Fun, underatted movie
I've always enjoyed this movie. It's a very funny comedy, with great performances by all the leads. I'm just so glad that older movies are seeing new lights of day on DVD. Great fun.

A wry, neglected comedy
Although the details are dated, _How To Beat The High Co$t Of Living_ is freshly topical, with the economy in a bad way again. The three heroines' problems are, IMO, partly their own fault---but one has to root for their spunky, ingenious heist.

Jane Curtin improvising a striptease to cover her chums' getaway is a real highlight of the disc. She's game, sexy, and believable in her role---a really talented actress. And, for the record, the power is cut off only in _part_ of the mall, not the whole thing---I saw a review of the movie when it came out that didn't understand this point.

THIS is why I am constantly on Amazon.com!
I can't believe this is finally coming to DVD!! I taped it a couple of years ago off of cable, have loved this movie since I saw it in a theater when I was 18.

I skim Amazon.com all the time, looking to see what's coming out on DVD, and nearly jumped out of my seat when I saw this - if you like "9 to 5" and movies like it, this is a gem! Susan St. James, Jessie Lange, and Jane Curtin play women desperate for money for one reason or another - St. James wants to get married to her boyfriend and become respectable; Lange needs the money to keep her from losing her shop, a business that's been steadily losing money that her husband bought for her but now has to get rid of or he's in tax trouble; and Curtin is a divorcee just trying to survive.

The three women, struggling to beat the high cost of living, come across a brilliant idea - their local mall is having a contest, a huge plastic ball in the center of the mall will be filled with money, and you have to figure how much is in it. What the ladies come up with is a plan to enter to ball from underneath, cut through it and use a vacuum cleaner hose to suck out a good chunk of the money out for themelves.

The planning and execution of this caper - using only what resources the ladies can muster up on their own (which includes getting the tools for their crime by stealing them from St. James's boyfriend's hardware store, in a hilarious scene where the kids come along for the ride because St. James's character couldn't get a babysitter) - does not exactly go smoothly.

Of course in this movie, as in "9 to 5" and others like it, the execution of the crime does NOT come off without its share of glitches. But wow, is it fun to watch, enjoyable and light entertainment that will put a smile on your face long after you've seen it, just thinking about your favorite scenes.

A great comedy caper
...The movie includes Jane Curtin, Susan St. James, and Jessica Lange who are feeling the crunch of the cost of living getting higher, while their paychecks stay the same. They notice a promotion at the mall which is holding Thousands of dollars and plan to steal the money. Very entertaining to watch how they plan to pull it off. The movie was first released in 1980, but you could easily remake the movie again today, as once again the high cost of living keeps on rising. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Now the king of Branson, Missouri, Andy Williams ruled the TV airwavesin the early 1960s, and this compendium of musical numbers culled from theshow's archives features some surprisingly astute musical moments. Among others,Williams performs with Bobby Darin, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby,Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., Judy Garland, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Of coursethe catch is that to see all of these stars at the peak of their powers, youhave to watch them performing with Williams. This will allow you to marvel athow it was that an inveterate WASP, who looked like a clean-cut insurancesalesman and sounded like a white-bread Perry Como (if that was possible),became a huge star in the 1960s. It will also give you a glimpse at examples ofthe now long-gone TV variety format of yesteryear, in which an easy-going hostwelcomed guest stars weekly to sing pop songs of the day and do skits (catchJudy Garland teaching Andy how to apply clown makeup in pantomime). --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great songs and a wonderful time capsule
I'm too young to remember his TV show, and I've been kind of lukewarm to Williams' records, other than the occasional brilliant song or single. But he really shines in this hour long special. This is mostly songs with some comedy thrown in, so you're not going to get a lot of sketch humor, but you do get performers like Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, and composer Antonio Carlos Jobim accompanying Williams. Williams more than holds his own with all the performers, and as a bonus he dances with Henry Mancini. You don't get any of his hits other than "In the Arms of Love" and a spooky version of "Moon River" that plays over the DVD menu on an endless loop. My favorite is Williams' duet with Tony Bennett and his solo version of the relatively unknown title song from "The Pawnbroker" which is just excellent.

This is a definite must own if you like classic pop music and/or variety shows and stands up to repeated viewings.

WONDERFUL DVD
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I LOVE THIS DVD. IT BROUGHT BACK SUCH GREAT MEMORIES WATCHING THE ANDY WILLIAMS SHOW WHEN I WAS ONLY 12.
THIS MAN HAD SUCH AN INCREDIBLE VOICE THEN AND STILL DOES NOW.
I LOVED EVERY SEQUENCE OF THIS DVD ,ESPECIALLY THE OSMONDS WITH MARIE. THAT WAS PRECIOUS. I JUST WISH IT HAD BEEN LONGER THAN THE 58 MIN. I WANT MORE. I HOPE THERE IS A VOL. 2 , MAYBE 3,
SOMEWHERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE...

Great retrospective--but only 3 or 4 seasons represented
This is an excellent DVD that hightlights Andy's pick of what he felt were some of his best moments during his TV show broadcast from 1962 to 1971. This is excellent viewing material and just plain fun for both those who are starting to get to be familiar with Andy Williams' work as well as those taking a stroll down memory lane. The quality of the picture and sound is excellent and the guests are very talented people. My only disappointment was that maybe Andy could have added other moments from other seasons of his shows--the majority of the clips are from the years 1965 to 1967. I vote this as a BUY; and I would have given it five stars were there more moments from other seasons added. Maybe this calls for a volume two? GRIN

A really great voice.
This guy can really sing. When Andy sings "The Way You Look Tonight",he hits notes and holds them as few singers can.
This was truly a classic singing performance. It is so nice to see and hear some of the great performers singing and my only gripe is that this very entertaining DVD should be longer.
How about volume 2 Andy?

Charming DVD - Wonderful Andy !
This dvd takes you back in time and it is a charming trip indeed! So much talent is displayed before your eyes. The incredible ease of the performances, the relax and joyous atmosphere that emanate from these clips is something to cherish. You can't help but wish for more. Please Mr.Williams a second,third... volume soon. Or better still why not the entire seasons (box sets). Your new generation of fans needs more visual materials to enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Rolling the dice on a Disney DVD?We have a winner!
Here is an excellent example of live-action Disney from the 1970's.A fun film for everyone starring Jan-Michael Vincent as a superathlete raised in the rain forrest (what we used to call the jungle), Roscoe Lee Browne as his mentor, the very funny Nancy Walker as a blind landlady, and the ever comic genius, Tim Conway.The best suprise is a very funny performance from actor John Amos as a track coach with a dismal win-loss record.

Disney Studios is graciously presenting this fine movie in its Original Aspect Ratio of 1.85:1.Why this movie and not others is, well, typical Disney mentality.But I guess we take 'em as we get 'em and Disney gets my money.Too bad "That Darn Cat, The Barefoot Executive and Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N." missed the 'letterbox boat'!

Terrific, underrated Disney comedy
In my opinion, "The World's Greatest Athlete" may very well be the best Disney comedy of the '70's, even better than "Freaky Friday" or "Apple Dumpling Gang."It's also incredibly underrated, with Leonard Maltin seemingly alone among major critics in loving it.

Without giving anything away, it is a goofy, inspired slapstick comedy with a terrific cast including an absolutely hilarious Tim Conway as an inept assistant coach, a well-cast Jan-Michael Vincent as a superathlete, the wonderful Roscoe Lee Browne, rising above his stereotypical, potentially offensive role as
an African witch-doctor, and the wonderful Nancy Walker as a blind landlady who mistakes a tiger for a drunken
frat boy.

But top acting honors go to John Amos as the losingest college coach in history.The fact that he is black is important to the story set-up, but is completely uncommented on in the film and therefore makes the film ahead of its time, at least for Disney studios, who I believe had never before had a black lead actor in one of its films.This is also the film in which Howard Cosell plays himself in a hilarious bit and delivers the great line:"I have never seen anything like this in my entire illustrious career!"

The only reason I don't give "The World's Greatest Athlete" better than a *** rating is that it isn't yet available in the remastered, wide-screen special edition DVD it deserves.Come on, Disney, get on the ball.You have a real gem in your vault and you act like you don't even know it.

an awesome goofball movie
this is a dumbell movie chock full of really stupid stuff. it's so dumb it's funny. i wish more movies were like this that doesn't take itself seriously. i own 2 copies of this movie.

boy how i remember
i remember seeing this movie when i was a little kid. my grandmother took me to see this in radio city music hall. that was way back at the beginning of the 70's. what a great film but i will not purchase it until it comes out on dvd. THANK YOU.

A great wholesome comedy for the entire family
A great wholesome comedy for the entire family. The kids will love it too. We need more family oriented movies like this one to be made in todays day and age. ... Read more

Description

A fun-filled musical the whole family will enjoy, based on the beloved children's story. FIlmed on location in Holland. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A vintage classic that needs to be on DVD!!
Of all those great prime-time soaps from the 1980s, the one that I watched religiously was "Falcon Crest," a gripping tale of love and ambition, greed and power amidst the vineyards of California's (fictional) Tuscany Valley.Featuring a phenomenal cast including Jane Wyman, Robert Foxworth, David Selby and Susan Sullivan, not to mention smart, complex scripts and possibly TV's greatest theme music (by Bill Conti), "Falcon Crest" is a must and I hope it gets a DVD release soon!!!

I will keep "WHINING" Until falcon crest is released on DVD
Okay, Dallas and Dynasty have now been released on DVD, now it is time to release the BEST of The Prime Time Soaps on DVD, FALCON CREST! Falcon Crest really set themselves apart from the rest of the pack! The Characters were Rich in Style and Complexities and the scenery was Breathtaking! Casting Jane Wyman as Angela Channing was a major coup. Falcon Crest has such a Gothic Feel to it, I dont even think the Words Soap Opera does it justice. More Like a Machivallian Play! Please Release this on DVD!

Like fine wine.....it is time to uncork Falcon Crest!!!!!!
With many of the shows of the eighties finally being released on DVD....it is finally coming time to uncork one of the best prime time soaps....Falcon Crest! Headed by veteran actress Jane Wyman, Falcon Crest separated itself from Dallas and Dynasty by using choice scenery and more complex characters. The locale and intriguing storylines kept fans glued to the set for nine seasons. I can only hope that a future DVD set would include some interviews with the cast and include TV ads and promotion. Let's uncork this vintage drama!!!It is time. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

PLEASE RELEASE THIS ON DVD
THIS IS A GREAT SHOW, AND IS VERY WORTHY OF BEING PUT ON DVD.COMPARED TO OVERS, LIKE A-TEAM, MATLOCK BLOWS THEM OUT OF THE WATER! ... Read more

Description

In 1927, two song and dance men, Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant, tookfour popular steps of the 1920's, strung them together and created thenow legendary tap dance "The Shim Sham Shimmy." In February 1994, at age87, Leonard created the Shim Sham II. To his utter joy, he lived to seehis dance become the official "National Anthem" of tap. If you've beentap dancing for years or are just putting on your first pair of tapshoes, you'll be able to learn the Shim Sham Shimmy. In theIntroduction, you will see a demonstration of the dance by a group oftalented and ageless (7-75!) tappers and hear an introduction by LeonardReed himself. In the lesson, tap dancer and preservationist Rusty Frankbreaks down the Shim Sham Shimmy, the Freeze Chorus and the Shim ShamII, using the same accessible methods she's used in hundreds of tapclasses. Now it's up to you, put the DVD in and start tapping. ... Read more